US flags to fly at half-staff until Pope Francis’ burial, Trump announces

Pope Francis - File Photo

In a solemn tribute to the late Pope Francis, US President Donald Trump has directed that the American flag be flown at half-staff across the United States and at all US government facilities worldwide.

Sharing the proclamation on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the decision was made “as a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis.” The directive applies to the White House, all public buildings, military posts and naval stations, as well as U.S. embassies, consular offices, and facilities abroad.

The order will remain in effect until sunset on the day of Pope Francis’s interment.

Trump’s post comes hours after he shared a brief condolence message, writing: “Rest in Peace Pope Francis! May God Bless him and all who loved him!”

"He was a good man, he worked hard and loved the world," Trump said at a White House event marking Easter.

This gesture marks one of the rare occasions a US President has issued such a nationwide order to honor the passing of a religious leader, underscoring Pope Francis’s global influence and legacy.

Biden, who was only the second Roman Catholic to serve as US president, hailed the late pope as "unlike any who came before him."

"Pope Francis will be remembered as one of the most consequential leaders of our time and I am better for having known him," Biden wrote on X alongside a picture of him and the Pope.